THREE conmen who defrauded elderly residents out of hundreds of pounds have been sentenced as their crimes were branded as "despicable".

Owen Maughan, 31, of Herbert Street, Sutton; Bradley Shinks, 24, of Fleet Lane, Parr and Kieran Scott, 24, of Cherry Tree Drive, Parr all pleaded guilty to fraud offences after targeting "vulnerable" victims at their homes.

On Monday, April 3 last year, the three men conned a 70-year-old man from Southport out of £300, by telling him he needed urgent work done to the roof of his property.

The day after Maughan approached an 88-year-old victim, also from Southport, and conned him out of £400 by again saying that work was needed on his home.

On both occasions, the victims were intimidated by the men and no work was completed on either of their properties.

At Liverpool Crown Court Maughan was sentenced to 18 months in prison for fraud and theft.

Shinks was sentenced to ten months in prison for fraud and Scott received an eight-month sentence for fraud, suspended for 18 months, and was given 240 hours of community service.

St Helens Star:

Owen Maughan has been jailed for 18 months

Following the sentencings, Detective Inspector Graeme Towndrow, said: "Today’s result concluded an investigation by detectives from the Merseyside Police Economic Crime Team and we hope that the victims now have some of the closure they deserve.

"These men targeted elderly people by saying that work needed completing on their homes, before intimidating them into handing over their money. These were despicable crimes targeting vulnerable individuals who have been left distraught.

Inspector Towndrow added: “Elderly people, their relatives and friends should always be wary of callers to their address offering any kind of service, however official they may appear. Identification should always be asked for and produced and, if necessary, contact made with the company they claim to work for to verify identities.

"Merseyside Police is working tirelessly, and together with partners, to reduce the opportunities for criminals to defraud members of our communities. If you have, or are being subjected to fraud, or feel like you, or someone you care for, is being scammed, please get in touch.”

Anyone with information should contact 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 and advice on dealing with uninvited rogue traders, is on 0345 404 0506.

Or call the Action Fraud helpline on 0300 123 2040.